Things to know about Diamonds

The Memorial Diamond is a real diamond. It features the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a natural diamond. The natural diamond is the most famous and hardest gemstone of the world.

The diamond consists of 99.9% carbon – the element of all life. It emerges in nature over hundreds of years inside the earth under high pressure and temperatures. The name diamond has its origin in the Late Latin ‘Diamantem’ and Greek ‘adamantem’, which means as much as the invincible.

Quality Features

Four quality features assess the value of a diamond. The combination of the four features determines the gems value; therefore, two apparently same diamonds can have different prices and values.

Carat (Weight)

The bigger and heavier, the less frequent the gem.

One of these seeds weighs about 197 milligrams. In 1907 the measurement ‘Carat’ was officially introduced with 0.2 grams. The prices of a diamond rise disproportionate to the weight of the gems. In nature big diamonds are less frequent and therefore more expensive, whereas in the case of synthetic diamonds the costs and the duration for its production rise disproportionate and accordingly the prices.

Clarity

The clearer, the more valuable the gem.

Less than 1% of all diamonds ever found are flawless - without any inclusions. The inclusions in natural diamonds appear as small crystals, clouds or feathers. Sometimes these inclusions are invisible to the eye. Inclusions – whether visible or invisible to the eye - interfere with the brilliance of the diamond, since the light’s reflection is uninterrupted between the surfaces of the gemstone.

In the case of the ALGORDANZA Memorial Diamonds, inclusions can occur too. Our diamonds are usually of the grade SI (=small inclusions). These small inclusions in our memorial diamonds are generally visible as dark spots. These inclusions in the ALGORDANZA Memorial Diamonds emphasize the uniqueness of each diamond.

Colour

The lesser coloured, the more beautiful.

The less coloration in a diamond, the rarer and the more valuable is the diamond. This is the general rule. The exception are the so-called 'Fancy Diamonds' - these fancy diamonds are of intense color and are likewise extremely rare. The color of diamonds is caused by impurities in their diamond grid, traces of other elements or defects in the diamond grid. The ALGORDANZA Memorial Diamonds have different blue shades due to the element boron ligated to the carbon. The intensity of the shade depends on the amount of boron within the diamond grid. We do not influence the coloration of our diamonds. Thus, each memorial diamond is unique - also in its coloration.

Cut

The better the cut, the greater is its brilliance.

The cut is the only man-made quality feature of a diamond. The right cut is important, because the right cut only is able to unleash the brilliance of a diamond and make a feature of its beauty. For the perfect cut, the proportions are important.

The symmetry - so to say the angles of the facets - has to be precise in order to reflect the light. The light bounces between the facets and thus creates the diamonds brilliance. If the cut is too shallow, the light escapes through the bottom, before it reflects and the diamond will not have any brilliance. With a too deep cut, the light escapes through the opposite facet and the diamond appears dark and dull. The sheen of a diamond depends on the sleekness of its surface; the sleeker the more intense the reflection of the light.

The ALGORDANZA Memorial Diamond is available as rough diamond. The rough diamond reflects the uniqueness of the deceased and blooms in its pristine beauty.